Appendectomy is a surgical procedure in which the inflamed appendix causing abdominal pain is removed. An appendix is a pouch-like structure attached to the large intestine and is located on the lower right side of the abdomen.

An appendectomy can be done laparoscopically as well as an open procedure. Complications may arise if an appendix has burst due to inflammation, which may increase the recovery time as a drain is put in the incision for a few days after the surgery.

Laparoscopic gallbladder removal is a minimally invasive surgery in which small incisions and specialized tools are used to remove a diseased or inflamed gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small organ located in the right upper abdomen below the liver. It helps in the storage of bile which is used to breakdown food during digestion. Laparoscopic gallbladder removal is a minimally invasive surgery in which small incisions and specialized tools are used to remove a diseased or inflamed gallbladder. The main reason for having a gallbladder removed is the presence of gallstones and the complications it might cause. Other reason for the surgery might include biliary dyskinesia, cholecystitis, pancreatitis. It is called as laparoscopic cholecystectomy and it carries only a small risk of complications.

Pancreatic cancer starts from the cells and tissues of the pancreas – a crucial organ that releases enzymes for digestion. It is also responsible for the production of insulin, the crucial hormone that regulates blood sugar in humans.

The pancreas can be affected by both non-cancerous as well as cancerous tumors. The most common type of pancreatic cancer is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which starts in the cells that line the ducts responsible for the transport of enzymes from the pancreas to the outside.

Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage – when it has spread to other nearby organs and therefore, the treatment is challenging in such situations. The diagnosis mostly takes place when certain symptoms are observed.

Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. This disease is a result of the growth of cancerous and malignant cells in the inner lining of the stomach.

Stomach cancer does not grow overnight as this disease usually grows slowly over many years. Some pre-cancerous changes take place before true cancer actually develops. But these early changes rarely result in any symptoms and therefore, often go undetected in the early stage when it is most easy to treat it.

Gastric cancer can grow through the wall of the stomach and invade nearby organs. It can easily spread to the lymph vessels and lymph nodes. In an advanced stage, it can travel through the bloodstream and spread or metastasize to organs such as the liver, lungs, and bones. Usually, people diagnosed with stomach cancer have either experienced metastasis already or eventually develop it.

Types of Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer should not be confused with other cancers in the abdomen or esophageal cancer. Some other cancer can also occur in the abdomen, including cancer of the large and small intestine, liver or pancreas. These cancers may have different symptoms, outlook, and options for treatment.

Some of the common types of gastric cancer include:

• Adenocarcinoma: It is the most common form of stomach cancer and about 90 to 95 percent of stomach cancers are This form of cancer develops from the cells that form the innermost lining (mucosa) of the stomach.
• Lymphoma: This is a rare form of stomach cancer and only about four percent of stomach cancers are lymphomas. These are cancers of the immune system tissue, sometimes found in the wall of the stomach.
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST): It is a rare kind of tumor that starts in very early forms of cells in the wall of the stomach calledinterstitial cells of Cajal. GISTs can be found anywhere in the digestive tract.
• Carcinoid tumour: It is also a rare form of stomach cancer and about three percent of stomach cancers are carcinoid tumors. Carcinoid tumors start in cells of the stomach that produced hormones.

Some other types of stomach cancers include squamous and small cell carcinoma and leiomyosarcoma. These cancers are very rare.

Stomach Cancer Causes

There is no single, definite cause behind stomach cancer. However, several stomach cancer risk factors have been identified that could potentially lead to the formation to a tumor in the stomach. Some of these stomach cancer causes or risk factors include:

• Inflammation of the gut called gastritis
• Infection with common bacteria called Helicobacter pylori
• Long-lasting anaemia
• Growth in stomach called polyps
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Excessive consumption of smoked, pickled or salty foods
• A-type blood group
• Epstein-Barr virus infection
• Certain genes (family history of disease)

Stomach Cancer Symptoms

There can be several early stomach cancer symptoms. However, the signs of stomach cancer could be present because of some other underlying condition as well. Unfortunately, this is the main reason why it is difficult to make stomach cancer diagnosis at an early stage.

Some of the early stomach cancer symptoms may include:

• Heartburn
• Regular indigestion
• Slight nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Frequent burping
• Feeling bloated

But just experiencing indigestion or heartburn after a meal does not really mean that you have cancer. Although, if you experience these symptoms a lot, talk to your doctor, who can decide whether to conduct further tests or not.

As advanced gastric cancer grow, you may experience more serious signs of stomach cancer, including the following:

• Frequent stomach ache or pain in the sternum
• Frequent heartburns
• Vomiting containing blood
• Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties)
• Loss of appetite, accompanied by sudden weight loss
• Blood in stools
• Excessive fatigue
• Yellowish eyes or skin

Among all the forms of common cancers, it has been found that pancreatic cancer has the poorest prognoses. This reason can be attributed to the cancer growing and spreading long before it starts showing any visible symptoms. A survey revealed that only 6 percent patients survive for more than five years after its diagnosis. For some patients, a very complicated surgery known as the Whipple's procedure will be able to extend life and can be counted as a potential cure. After undergoing Whipple's surgery the five-year rate of survival can be increased to 25 percent.

People who are suffering from pancreatic cancer are eligible for the Whipple’s operation. People who have tumors confined to the pancreatic head and the blood vessels, lungs, and livers or the abdominal cavities are still not affected and are recommended to undergo this procedure after intensive testing and evaluation.

People with benign tumors are also recommended to undergo the procedure. For patients who are suffering metastasis, this procedure is not recommended. Cancer in the ampulla, region where the pancreatic duct and bile duct enter, can also be treated.

Whipple's Operation

Whipple's operation is conducted in the head of the pancreas. During the surgery, a segment of the duodenum, bile duct, and the gallbladder is removed. In some cases, a portion of the stomach may also be removed. After these segments are removed, the remaining pancreas, bile duct, and even portion of the intestine will be sutured back to the main intestine to direct the secretion of the gastrointestinal segment into the gut. The Whipple& procedure for pancreatic cancer is long and has several complications associated with it.

A doctor may recommend you to undergo Whipple operation for the treatment of the following conditions:

• Pancreatic cysts, tumors, and cancer
• Ampullary cancer
• Pancreatitis
• Neuroendocrine tumors
• Cancer of the bile duct
• Small bowel cancer
• Traumatic injury to the small intestine or the pancreas
• Tumor of disorders of the bile ducts, pancreas, or duodenum